NameCensus.

UK surname

Beddard

An English surname derived from the Old French word "bedard" meaning a jester or fool.

In the 1881 census there were 370 people recorded with the Beddard surname, ranking it #8,434 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 432, ranked #11,135, down from #8,434 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Dudley and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Wolverhampton and Ashford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Beddard is 550 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.8%.

1881 census count

370

Ranked #8,434

Modern count

432

2016, ranked #11,135

Peak year

1911

550 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Beddard had 370 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,434 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 432 in 2016, ranked #11,135.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 550 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Beddard surname distribution map

The map shows where the Beddard surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Beddard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Beddard over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 213 #9,934
1861 historical 270 #9,216
1881 historical 370 #8,434
1891 historical 416 #8,596
1901 historical 457 #8,610
1911 historical 550 #7,287
1997 modern 515 #9,110
1998 modern 514 #9,383
1999 modern 511 #9,500
2000 modern 474 #10,029
2001 modern 486 #9,674
2002 modern 495 #9,709
2003 modern 480 #9,782
2004 modern 469 #9,983
2005 modern 452 #10,173
2006 modern 449 #10,255
2007 modern 447 #10,388
2008 modern 448 #10,458
2009 modern 449 #10,690
2010 modern 464 #10,633
2011 modern 460 #10,594
2012 modern 469 #10,348
2013 modern 478 #10,362
2014 modern 482 #10,371
2015 modern 462 #10,619
2016 modern 432 #11,135

Geography

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Where Beddards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Dudley, Wigan, Warrington and Stockton-on-Tees (Stockton-on-Tees), Stainton (Thornaby ), Norton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Wolverhampton, Ashford, Dudley and Stockton-on-Tees. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Wigan Lancashire
4 Warrington Lancashire
5 Stockton-on-Tees (Stockton-on-Tees), Stainton (Thornaby ), Norton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 034 Shropshire
2 Wolverhampton 001 Wolverhampton
3 Ashford 014 Ashford
4 Dudley 017 Dudley
5 Stockton-on-Tees 016 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Beddard

These lists show first names that appear often with the Beddard surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Beddard

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Beddard, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Beddard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Beddard household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Beddard is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Beddard is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Beddard falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Beddard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Beddard, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Beddard

The surname Beddard is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bedd," meaning a bed or plot of land, and the suffix "-ard," which denotes an occupation or characteristic. The name likely referred to someone who worked as a gardener or tended to beds or plots of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Beddard can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1195, where it is spelled "Beddard." This historical document recorded financial transactions and tax records during the reign of King Richard I.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Bedard" and "Beddarde," in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire and the Feet of Fines for Essex, respectively. These records suggest that the name was primarily concentrated in the southern and central regions of England during that time period.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Beddard. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Bedwin and Bedfield.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Beddard throughout history include:

1. John Beddard (c. 1510 - 1583), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire in the 16th century. 2. Thomas Beddard (1572 - 1642), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works during the 17th century. 3. Elizabeth Beddard (c. 1620 - 1695), a landowner and philanthropist who donated funds for the construction of schools and almshouses in the village of Stratford-upon-Avon. 4. William Beddard (1767 - 1832), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and participated in several significant battles. 5. Sarah Beddard (1825 - 1901), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's education in the late 19th century, who founded one of the first boarding schools for girls in London.

The surname Beddard has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Beddard's Green in Warwickshire and Beddard's Farm in Gloucestershire, further reinforcing its historical roots and geographical distribution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Beddard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Beddard surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 228 Beddards recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.71x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 228 18.71x
Lancashire 50 1.17x
Yorkshire 26 0.73x
Worcestershire 21 4.46x
Warwickshire 13 1.43x
Middlesex 8 0.22x
Gloucestershire 7 0.99x
Cheshire 5 0.63x
Shropshire 5 1.60x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.62x
Derbyshire 2 0.35x
Lincolnshire 1 0.17x
Midlothian 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingswinford in Staffordshire leads with 134 Beddards recorded in 1881 and an index of 302.96x.

Place Total Index
Kingswinford 134 302.96x
Sedgley 42 92.82x
Warrington 31 61.06x
Wolverhampton 14 14.95x
Dudley 12 20.94x
Normanton 10 93.02x
Lower Penn 8 1904.76x
Rowley Regis 8 23.56x
Sutton Coldfield 8 83.59x
Oldbury 7 30.19x
Ormesby 7 72.84x
Pendlebury 7 77.43x
Cheltenham 6 10.99x
Norton Canes 6 135.14x
St George Hanover Square 6 9.44x
Walsall Foreign 6 9.53x
West Bromwich 5 7.17x
Highley 4 888.89x
Liverpool 4 1.54x
Middlesbrough 4 8.59x
Monks Coppenhall 4 13.31x
Shelley 4 191.39x
Upper Penn 4 131.15x
Heap 3 13.21x
Nottingham St Mary 3 2.38x
Derby St Werburgh 2 6.13x
North Meols 2 4.77x
St Marylebone London 2 1.04x
Stoneleigh 2 132.45x
Wigan 2 3.34x
Aston 1 0.40x
Birmingham 1 0.33x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.43x
Clent 1 80.65x
Clifton 1 2.79x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 9.97x
Hogsthorpe 1 112.36x
Hoose 1 67.11x
Leamington Priors 1 4.46x
Openshaw 1 4.99x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 8.13x
Tipton 1 2.68x
Wollaston 1 33.44x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Beddard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 20
Sarah 20
Elizabeth 13
Ann 10
Eliza 8
Annie 7
Louisa 7
Emily 6
Emma 6
Hannah 6
Alice 4
Catherine 4
Harriet 4
Phoebe 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Rachel 3
Susan 3
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Lilly 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Phebe 2
Allice 1
Anna 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Clandia 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Ida 1
Jessey 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Margaret 1
Nancy 1
Natalda 1
Nellie 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Beddard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 29
William 20
Thomas 15
Joseph 14
Benjamin 8
Henry 7
Frank 6
James 6
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Edward 5
Frederick 5
Joshua 5
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Daniel 3
David 3
Eli 3
Francis 3
Harry 3
Geo. 2
George 2
Isaac 2
Abel 1
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Cain 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hozekiah 1
Isaiah 1
Laban 1
Limeck 1
Mary 1
Mathew 1
Nathan 1
Sidney 1
Solomon 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wm.E. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Beddard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Beddard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 370 people were recorded with the Beddard surname. That placed it at #8,434 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Beddard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 432 in 2016. That gives Beddard a modern rank of #11,135.

What does the Beddard surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French word "bedard" meaning a jester or fool.

What does the Beddard map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Beddard bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.